THE HINDU

II Monday, May 6, 2024

SCIENCE
Delhi

Where does ‘us versus them’

bias in the brain come from?
Modern genetics has established that all humans are equal. But human history is replete with people from one cultural or social group treating those from others as
if they are less than human. The basis of this deep-seated tendency continues to be the focus of intense research efforts in psychology and neuroscience

Reeteka Sud
THE GIST
쑽
In a study, scientists found
ll animals are equal, but stark differences between

“A some are more equal than

others” — this line from
George Orwell’s 1945
classic Animal Farm perfectly describes
how bias operates in human societies.
participants’ explicit
statements and their implicit
beliefs. While everyone said
they believed in the equality of
all races, they also harboured
In a study published in May last year, implicit biases in favour of
socially advantaged groups.
psychologists explored how people
This bias was universal,
subconsciously evaluate different racial
irrespective of racial identity
groups. They screened responses from
more than 60,000 participants belonging 쑽
to four groups: ‘white’, ‘blacks’, Studies have found that the
‘Hispanics’, and ‘Asians’ (67% of them criteria our brains use to
lived in the U.S.). categorise others as ‘us’ or
27a13d49-6ffa-4743-8420-bfeb87e585af

‘them’ shift constantly

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Using a psychological test called an
implicit association test (IAT), scientists 쑽
found stark differences between
Bias doesn’t exist at birth. It is
participants’ explicit statements and their
a learned response built on
implicit beliefs. While everyone said they cultural associations together
believed in the equality of all races, they with the brain’s biology.
also harboured implicit biases in favour of Factors that lead to hostility
socially advantaged groups. This bias was A better understanding of the human brain in the context of intergroup threats can also shed light on ways to improve reconciliation. ALAIN JOCARD/AFP include associating an
also universal, irrespective of the racial out-group with a threat.
identity of the participants. Uncertain circumstances can
The IAT is built on the premise that if they — as white people — differed from In one 2020 study, psychologists also heighten mistrust towards
two things — words, concepts, events, etc. black individuals. They asked the other imaged the brains of white, non-Muslim the outgroup
— have co-occurred in our experience half to describe how they differed from participants as they watched short videos
over and over again, we put those two old persons. In this way, the researchers Psychologists explored how people of Muslim males with stereotypical
things together very quickly. The test drew the participants’ attention to subconsciously evaluate different appearances threatening their in-group
includes a series of quick-fire rounds to specific aspects of their own social racial groups in a study involving more and found this activated the amygdala
sort words related to concepts (e.g. identity (“white” or “young”) and to more, as expected. This study was unique
than 60,000 participants
“thin”, “fat”, “white”, “black”, etc.) and perceived differences from the respective because it also included videos of
assessments (“good” or “bad”) into outgroups. reconciliatory statements — and watching
categories. A participant’s score is based Assessing the participant responses substantiated these findings. Depending them activated a very different neural
on the time taken to sort words when with IAT, the researchers found that on the context, this differential processing circuit, involving different parts of the
concepts and assessments are combined. directing participants’ attention to could be harmless, lead to subtle forms of cortex, which are higher brain regions
For example, if test subjects combine different facets of their in-group identity in-group favouritism or, in extreme cases, that control impulses and regulate
“white” with “good” faster than they do was sufficient to change their intergroup to intergroup violence. emotions. The amygdala being activated
“white” with “bad”, the test suggests they bias. That is, the participants’ preferences Bias doesn’t exist at birth. It is a by something perceived as a threat is an
have an implicit bias favouring white changed depending on whether their learned response built on cultural automatic part of information processing
people. brains used age or race to classify others. associations together with the brain’s in the brain. But cortical activation
biology. Yet preferential bias towards implies more of a cognitive effort.
The brain’s shifting criteria Bias is learned in-group members doesn’t mean an We need more research to better
That all humans are equal is a scientific Neuroimaging studies have corroborated individual will be hostile towards understand neural processing,
fact established by modern genetics. such findings from psychology research, out-group members. Factors that lead to particularly the extent to which these
However, the history of humankind is and have clarified that hostility include the notion of associating results are generalisable. A better
replete with people from one cultural or information-processing in the brain is an out-group with a threat. Uncertain understanding of the human brain in the
social group treating those from others as different depending on whether it circumstances — such as those we context of intergroup threats can also
if they are less than human — a pertains to “us” or to “them”. witnessed during the pandemic — can shed light on ways to improve
phenomenon called pseudo-speciation. Brain regions that activate in response also heighten mistrust towards the reconciliation.
The basis of this deep-seated tendency in to the direct experience of pain as well as outgroup. Whenever you hear social and/or
people continues to be the focus of empathy for the pain of others include cultural narratives presented as a “fact of
intense research efforts in psychology and parts of the anterior cingulate cortex and The biology behind ‘facts of life’ life” — that, say, “they are bad people” —
neuroscience. insula. The first report showing this Neuroimaging studies that have explored and find yourself getting sucked into it,
Many recent studies have found that selective processing was published more the basis of intergroup threats have remember that somewhere behind this
our brains process information about than a decade ago. Participants were highlighted the role of a specific brain statement is a misappropriated bit of
in-groups (i.e. “us”) and out-groups shown images of others in distress (e.g. region called the amygdala. An brain biology. Being aware of our own
(“them”) differently. In particular, a study people affected by natural disasters) and almond-shaped region situated deep in biology can make us more informed,
published on March 18, 2024, in Frontiers non-painful situations (e.g. people out on the brain, the amygdala is central to especially when faced with narratives that
in Psychology reported that, bizarrely, the a picnic). Images of their brains showed detecting threats and fear-based learning. arouse rather than inform.
criteria our brains use to categorise others lower activation in these brain regions Imaging studies have shown the amygdala (Dr. Reeteka Sud is a neuroscientist by
as “us” or “them” shift constantly. when those in distress belonged to racial activates to a greater degree when the training and a senior scientist at the Center
Researchers asked half of a group of groups different from the participants. source of threat is from an out-group for Brain and Mind, Department of
young, white participants to describe how Since then, several other studies have member. Psychiatry, NIMHANS, Bengaluru.)

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BIG SHOT WHAT IS IT?

Catatumbo lightning: a torrent of current

Arkatapa Basu

Catatumbo lightning is a
mesmerising natural phenomenon
that occurs over the Catatumbo
River in Venezuela, where lightning
strikes almost continuously. This
phenomenon primarily happens at
the mouth of the Catatumbo River,
where it meets Lake Maracaibo,
the largest lake in Venezuela.
A convergence of several factors
give rise to the unique conditions
required for Catatumbo lightning.
Warm, moist air from the
Caribbean Sea is pushed towards
the Andes mountains, where it
collides with cooler air descending
from the peaks. This collision
creates a perfect storm of sorts, as
the warmer air is forced to rise
rapidly by the shape of the local
landscape. And as it does, it cools
and condenses, forming towering A convergence of several factors give rise to the
cumulonimbus clouds. unique conditions required for Catatumbo lightning.
Meanwhile, the combination of GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO
strong winds and temperature
differentials generates electrical average of 28 lightning strikes per minute
charges within these clouds. The at its peak. Thanks to this constant flow of
cumulonimbus clouds — current, the area has earned the title of
sometimes reaching heights of “the lightning capital of the world”.
more than 5 km — load up on
static electricity. When the
electrical potential within the
clouds becomes too great, it
discharges in the form of lightning. For feedback and suggestions
Catatumbo lightning is for ‘Science’, please write to
X
distinguished by its frequency and science@thehindu.co.in
An aerial view of hippopotamuses stuck in a dry channel in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. A drought across southern Africa has been driven mostly by the El Nino weather duration: the strikes occur for up with the subject ‘Daily page’
pattern, not climate change, scientists have said. Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi have declared a national disaster over the severe dry spell that started in January and has to 160 nights in a year, with an
devastated the agricultural sector, decimating crops and pastures. AFP
CM S ND-NDE
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